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1 Nottingham Trent University Course Specification Multidisciplinary Master s Basic Course Information 1. Awarding Institution: Nottingham Trent University 2. School/Campus: All Schools / All Campuses 3. Final Award, Course Title and Modes of Study: MA or MSc Multidisciplinary course (see section 9 for title information), Full Time 4. Normal Duration: 1 year 5. UCAS Code: N/A 6. Overview and general educational aims of the course The Multidisciplinary Master s (MDM) is an innovative course designed to provide a more flexible route through postgraduate studies. Whilst traditional master s courses focus on specialising on a single area of study, MDM enables you to combine modules from different areas of the university in order to better reflect your interests and career aspirations. Nowadays organisations are increasingly seeking graduates who have a wider skills base, and are able to demonstrate their abilities to work outside of a single discipline. Working within guidelines and with the guidance of a tutor, MDM students will create their own masters-level course by selecting a major area of study plus additional minor modules. Students will all study a core MDM module which supports your learning and introduces you to the differing knowledge structures associated with the main disciplines. It will equip you with skills to work across differing disciplines, and to work in multidisciplinary teams with your fellow students. Students will complete the majority of their studies here at NTU, before undertaking a work-based project with a relevant partner company. This provides the opportunity to gain real work experience while furthering your education, placing you at an advantage in a competitive jobs market. The flexibility and bespoke nature of this course makes it a suitable and challenging option for a diverse mix of individuals; whether you are an experienced professional looking to broaden your knowledge and skills, or you are at the very early stages of building your career. 1

2 7. Course outcomes Course outcomes describe what you should know and be able to do by the end of your course if you take advantage of the opportunities for learning that we provide. Knowledge and understanding By the end of the course you should be able to: 1. critically understand the nature and challenges of studying across multiple disciplines, with specific reference to how the dominant theoretical frameworks and methodological procedures associated with a discipline influence the development of knowledge 2. critically review the potential benefits and drawbacks of multidisciplinary working practices 3. identify issues or problems and their conceptualisation from differing theoretical perspectives 4. generate alternative perspectives based on a critical appreciation and synthesis of knowledge drawn from differing theoretical perspectives 5. systematically understand knowledge and be critically aware of current problems and/or new insights at the forefront of your academic discipline(s) 6. comprehensively and critically understand the techniques applicable to your own area of research or professional practice Skills, qualities and attributes By the end of the course you should be able to: 1. deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate your conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences 2. demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks in a professional manner 3. advance your knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level in your chosen areas of study or practice 4. demonstrate the ability to apply and analyse knowledge and information to devise sensible and justified outcomes, based on an understanding of the contexts and key theoretical approaches within your chosen disciplines 5. reflect critically on your own performance within a group endeavour, working with others from differing disciplines, in order to enhance your own working practices 6. take responsibility for independent learning, demonstrating the reflective skills and maturity required to manage your ongoing professional development 8. Teaching and learning methods The specific teaching and learning methods will vary according to your course of study. During Induction the course team will introduce you to a range of teaching and 2

3 learning methods and explain how you can make the most of the learning opportunities available. The teaching and learning methods for modules will vary, and will reflect the techniques most appropriate to the area of study. Thus, for example, you could be undertaking individual research, practicals, participating in small group or one-to-one tutorials, working with fellow students in seminar or workshop activities or attending larger group lectures. For some modules students will work in the specialist labs or studios. You will be able to find out about learning and teaching methods for the majors and minors you select from the individual module specifications. NOW, the NTU online learning workspace, will be used to support your learning, and enable you to access additional resources. A significant part of your learning will be work-based when you undertake the work placement. You will work with the course team to identify an appropriate placement opportunity and from this a suitable project. Whilst on placement you will have the support of an academic mentor to oversee you studies and provide guidance. 9. Assessment methods Again, the ways in which you will be assessed will depend upon your chosen areas of study. Assessment methods are designed to best assess your learning in the given area; these could include examinations, academic reports or essays, consultancy-style reports, reflective work, practicals, presentations or portfolios. For the work-based project, you will negotiate a project with your academic mentor, based on your placement experience and the module learning outcomes. The MDM core module will incorporate a group-based assessment, requiring you to demonstrate your team working, creative and analytical skills in developing a solution to a problem proposed by one of our business partners. It will include an element of formative assessment, so you are able to get feedback from your supervisor in the early stages of the project. During Induction the course team will provide you with a schedule of assessments specific to your course of study. More details of assessments for individual modules can be found in the module specifications. 3

4 10. Course structure and curriculum The MDM course is based around the following framework:- Core MDM Module Multidisciplinary Studies and Practices (20crs) Major Modules (total 60crs) Minor Modules (total 40crs) Work-based Project (60crs) All students will complete the course-specific core MDM module. This is designed to introduce students to the challenges of multidisciplinary studies and practices. Thus students will explore a range of differing knowledge structures, research approaches, and professional practices associated with differing disciplines. This will be supported by practical work to develop the skills and abilities to work as an effective member of multidisciplinary teams, as commonly encountered in the workplace. This module will help you to develop teamworking, problem-solving, decision-making and creative skills and to take responsibility for managing your own personal development. The course team have worked with all the schools across NTU to offer a list of majors covering a diverse range of specialisms. The latest majors on offer will be available from the MDM pages on NTU s website. Majors are designed by specialists within the schools and aim provide an up-to-date and in-depth course of study within the chosen area. Often modules are selected from our existing provision, so you will share classes with students who have elected to study this as a master s course in its own right. It also means that you will be taught by specialists in the chosen discipline. The nature of the MDM course means that rather than studying a narrow field, you are able to combine this with minors from other areas of the university. Following the guidelines and in consultation with the MDM course team, you can select complementary modules from another school. So for example you may wish to support you major in science or technology with some master s level business modules. Minor modules are usually 20 credits, so you would select 2 minors to study. Finally your work-based project will be negotiated with your placement employer and your academic mentor. It will be based on an area related to your chosen major and draw upon your experiences on placement. Depending on the nature of your major and placement, this could take the form of an academic-style, research-based dissertation or a piece of consultancy work for example. 4

5 11 Admission to the course For current information regarding all entry requirements for this course, please see the `Applying tab on the course information web page. 12 Support for learning The course team recognise the challenges associated with multidisciplinary study and have thus put in place a number of initiatives to support your learning. Firstly the MDM Course Team, comprising the Course Manager, Administrative Assistant and Industry Liaison Manager, will oversee your studies and act as a central source of help and support. You will meet the team during the course Induction and at regular intervals thereafter. The team are based on our city site, but regularly travel to all the university campuses to meet students, employers and academics based in the schools. Each school also has an MDM Academic Lead so there will be an experienced academic who is knowledgeable about your major and can thus provide more specialist support for your learning. The MDM Academic Leads all report in to the course team and support the design and delivery of the MDM course within the schools. Whilst on placement, you will have an Academic Mentor who will provide both academic and pastoral support, easing the transition from university-based study to work-based learning. They will be the key point of contact for your work-based project and will visit you whilst on placement. Student Services provide a range of specialist student services across NTU which can be accessed directly by all NTU students. They cover areas such as student finance and fees, accommodation, study support and health and well-being. Whilst the MDM team has its own Industry Liaison Manager, you can also access the services of the NTU Employability team in finding a placement or longer term employment opportunities. Finally NTU has worked to ensure library and learning resources are available to access remotely or from across the 3 sites. The team will introduce students to the facilities available during induction, and the library specialists are on hand in the libraries or via online support to answer any questions you may have in terms of accessing appropriate learning resources. 5

6 You should thus be able to access support for your learning across all 3 sites, and to draw upon specialist support from within the schools and support services, as well as more general support from the MDM Course Team. 13 Graduate destinations/employability Key drivers behind the development of this course were the desire to widen participation in postgraduate taught courses, opening up fields of study and providing a course that enhances student employability. It is on this basis that we have been awarded HEFCE funding to support the development and launch of the MDM course. The course has thus been designed with employability in mind, and we have worked with employers to develop the course. Since it is early in the development process, we do not have hard data on postgraduate destinations and employability. However, our experiences across the university on the design and delivery of postgraduate taught courses indicates that employers are seeking students who are able to demonstrate not only specific technical knowledge, but also the personal and business-related skills to apply this knowledge within the work environment. To quote from the 2014 Higher Education Careers Service Unit report; Employers requirements for Masters-level qualifications are linked to their requirements for specific skills, abilities and knowledge. Employers emphasise the value of practical, work-related experience during Masters courses. Student employability will be enhanced through the selection of majors and minors which can address identified skills gaps, and through the completion of a work-based project. This not only provides an alternative, stimulating learning environment, but also gives students a track record of employment. 14 Course standards and quality Effective management is crucial to the process of ensuring that course standards and quality are achieved and maintained. Management of the MDM course will be effected through two formally constituted committees; the Course Committee and the Board of Examiners. 6

7 The Course Committee will oversee the strategic direction, quality assurance and management of the course. The constitution and brief of the Course Committee will be in accordance with the University s policy and practice in the University Handbook. The course committee encourages feedback and discussion and to a Student Forum each term, rotating across the three campuses. Full details will be provided in the Course Handbook. The Examination Board will operate in accordance with current University policy and procedures as stated in the Academic Standards and Quality handbook and agreed in the development and approval of the course. In addition to the formal committees, further quality assurances are built into the management of the course with course team meetings, academic lead disciplinespecific reporting, student evaluation processes and course annual reporting. 15 Assessment regulations This course is subject to the University s Common Assessment Regulations (located in Section 16 of the Quality Handbook). Any course specific assessment features are described below: None Common Assessment Regulations apply 16 Additional Information Collaborative partner(s): N/A Course referenced to national QAA Benchmark Statements: Yes QAA level 7 Course recognised by: Date this course specification approved: Any additional information: This course has been development with funding from HEFCE s Postgraduate Support Scheme designed to encourage wider participation in postgraduate taught courses. The course team report back to HEFCE and significant 7

8 studentships, fee waivers and academic scholarships are available in the first 2 years as a result of this support. 8

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